Thank you Melinda Beck for contributing to the series.
What is your art background?
I grew up in NYC in the 70's and early 80's a crazy lawless time where any thing was possible and art was everywhere. I was always an obsessive drawer which did not seem strange to my artist parents. They have since inherited a closet full my of bad high school art.
I left New york in 1985 to study graphic design at Rhode Island School of Design. I came right back the day after graduation and moved to Brooklyn with my now husband Jordin Isip and have been here ever since.
What is the next step for you as an artist?
That is the thing, I never know. I started out as a graphic designer, then my work shifted more towards illustration. Now I am working on a lot of animation projects. None of this was planned. I have always been open to experimenting and trying things I have never done before.
Name a few of your favorite contemporary artists?
Artist I can't live without are: Ben Shahn, Saul Steinberg, Paul Rand, Alvin Lustig, August Sander, David Hockney and Basquiat. My two new favorite art books are on Olle Eksell and Leigh Bowery.
What is your artistic Process and when do you know a piece is complete?
Most of my creative decisions are made during the sketching process. I spend a lot of time sketching, putting down any idea that comes to mind, even the really dumb ones. Once I have a sketch I like I get a vision in my head of what the completed piece will look like. I then try to recreate this idea in reality.
What else do you do beside art?
Collecting useless but pretty objects. I used to travel to far away places and bring back boxes of such objects. I now have kids so my adventures are closer to home: baking treats, sewing (I included a picture), hanging out with my kids and walking around five boroughs.
Do you dream and what was the last dream you had?
My dreams are very epic and a little bizarre involving a cast of thousands
detailed sets and a completely new identity unrelated to my real life.
INSPIRATION
Currently Reading/ Watching anything?
books
Don't Get Too Comfortable - David Rakoff,
Naked in Baghdad - Anne Garrels
Unaccustomed Earth - Jhumpa Lahiri
The Good Rat - Jimmy Breslin
Fuzzy Math - Paul Krugman
tv shows I like are: The Daily Show, Frontline, Flight of the Conchords, No Reservations, and Lost
radio: Marketplace, This American Life and Leonard Lopate
Any one you are dying to collaborate with?
I really enjoy the work of other artists but I actually don't like collaboration at all. Life is one big collaboration which is nice but art is a place where I can do my own thing without having to defer to anyone.
Hello.
I thought you might be interested in reading about a printmaking exhibition at Columbia College Chicago’s Center for Book and Paper Arts opening September 11. Check out my blogpost about Pearl of the Snowlands at http://artseenchicago.blogspot.com/2009/05/pearl-of-snowlands-buddhist-prints-from.html. Thanks. I hope it’s OK if I leave a link to your site on artseenchicago.
Posted by: Artseenchicago | May 18, 2009 at 01:35 PM
Dear Jessica,
beautiful!
Wish you a wonderful week, love AnnLuise
Posted by: AnnLuise | May 18, 2009 at 05:06 PM